NOTICE OF DEFAULT AND FORECLOSURE SALE
WHEREAS, on September 10, 2008, a certain Mortgage was executed by Marion M. Mason and Eloise M. Mason, husband and wife, as mortgagor(s) in favor of Countrywide Bank, FSB, as mortgagee, and was recorded on September 22, 2008, in Mortgage Book 407, in Page 268, as Instrument Number 72293 in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Washington County, State of AL; and
WHEREAS, the Mortgage was insured by the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (the Secretary) pursuant to the National Housing Act for the purpose of providing single family housing; and
WHEREAS, the Mortgage is now owned by the Secretary, pursuant to an assignment dated May 2, 2023 and recorded on May 17, 2023, in MISC Book 208, at Page 782 in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Washington County, State of AL; and
WHEREAS, a default has been made in the covenants and conditions of the Mortgage in that the payment due on the death of the borrower(s), was not made and remains wholly unpaid as of the date of this notice, and no payment has been made sufficient to restore the loan to currency; and
WHEREAS, the entire amount delinquent as of April 10, 2026 is $154,860.63 and
WHEREAS, by virtue of this default, the Secretary has declared the entire amount of the indebtedness secured by the Mortgage Deed to be immediately due and payable;
NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to powers vested in me by the Single Family Mortgage Foreclosure Act of 1994, 12 U.S.C. 3751 et seq., by 24 CFR part 27, subpart B, and by the Secretarys designation of me as Foreclosure Commissioner, notice is hereby given that on May 22, 2026 during the legal hours of sale, all real and personal property at or used in connection with the following described premises (Property) will be sold at public auction to the highest bidder:
All that certain parcel of land situated in the County of Washington, State of Alabama, being known and designated as Lot 25 in the First Addition of Palmer Subdivision, Leroy, Alabama, plat of which is recorded in Plat Book 3, Page 80, in the Office of the Judge of Probate, Washington County, Chatom, Alabama.
Commonly known as: 406 Palmer Circle, Leroy, AL 36548
This sale will take place at the Washington County Courthouse. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development estimated bid will be $156,241.32.
There will be no proration of taxes, rents or other income or liabilities, except that the purchaser will pay, at or before closing, his prorata share of any real estate taxes that have been paid by the Secretary to the date of the foreclosure sale.
When making their bids, all bidders except the Secretary must submit a deposit totaling $15,624.13 (10% of the Secretarys bid) in the form of a certified check or cashiers check made out to the Secretary of HUD. A deposit need not accompany each oral bid. If the successful bid is oral, a deposit of $15,624.13 must be presented before the bidding is closed. THE DEPOSIT IS NONREFUNDABLE. The remainder of the purchase price must be delivered within 30 days of the sale or at such other time as the Secretary may determine for good cause shown, time being of the essence. This amount, like the bid deposits, must be delivered in the form of a certified or cashiers check. If the Secretary is the highest bidder, he need not pay the bid amount in cash. The successful bidder will pay all conveying fees, all real estate and other taxes that are due on or after the delivery date of the remainder of the payment and all other costs associated with the transfer of title. At the conclusion of the sale, the deposits of the unsuccessful bidders will be returned to them.
The Secretary may grant an extension of time within which to deliver the remainder of the payment. All extensions will be for 15-day increments for a fee of $500.00, paid in advance. The extension fee shall be in the form of a certified or cashiers check made payable to the Secretary of HUD. If the high bidder closes the sale prior to the expiration of any extension period, the unused portion of the extension fee shall be applied toward the amount due.
If the high bidder is unable to close the sale within the required period, or within any extensions of time granted by the Secretary, the high bidder may be required to forfeit the cash deposit or, at the election of the foreclosure commissioner after consultation with the HUD representative, will be liable to HUD for any costs incurred as a result of such failure. The Commissioner may, at the direction of the HUD representative, offer the property to the second highest bidder for an amount equal to the highest price offered by that bidder.
There is no right of redemption, or right of possession based upon a right of redemption, in the mortgagor or others subsequent to a foreclosure completed pursuant to the Act. Therefore, the Foreclosure Commissioner will issue a Deed to the purchaser(s) upon receipt of the entire purchase price in accordance with the terms of the sale as provided herein. HUD does not guarantee that the property will be vacant.
The scheduled foreclosure sale shall be cancelled or adjourned if it is established, by documented written application of the mortgagor to the Foreclosure Commissioner not less than 3 days before the date of sale, or otherwise, that the default or defaults upon which the foreclosure is based did not exist at the time of service of this notice of default and foreclosure sale, or all amounts due under the mortgage agreement are tendered to the Foreclosure Commissioner, in the form of a certified or cashiers check payable to the Secretary of HUD, before public auction of the property is completed.
The amount that must be paid if the mortgage is to be reinstated prior to the scheduled sale is based upon the nature of the breach, this loan is not subject to reinstatement. A total payoff is required to cancel the foreclosure sale or the breach must be otherwise cured. A description of the default is as follows: FAILURE TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL BALANCE AND ANY OUTSTANDING FEES, COSTS, AND INTEREST WHICH BECAME ALL DUE AND PAYABLE BASED UPON THE DEATH OF ALL MORTGAGORS.
Tender of payment by certified or cashiers check or application for cancellation of the foreclosure sale shall be submitted to the address of the Foreclosure Commissioner provided below.
Dated this 10th day of April, 2026.
Michael Lindsey
Halliday, Watkins & Mann, P.C.
Foreclosure Commissioner
244 Inverness Center Drive
Birmingham, AL 35242
Phone: (801) 355-2886
Fax: (801) 328-9714
HWM File: AL24081
Washington County News May 1, 8, 15, 2026
